have vs has question

   Share on Facebook  
Anonymous  #515872  Tue, 20 May 08 12:12 AM
An enemy that is being detained does not (have/has) any rights.

Have = plural

has = singular

 Does the -have- refer to the rights or the enemy as the subject?

 Also my second question, what is the difference in

1. An enemy that is detained 

2. An enemy that is being detained

Thank you! 

  
Clive  #515875  Tue, 20 May 08 12:21 AM

Hi,

An enemy that is being detained does not (have/has) any rights. The writer of this sentence needs to have a look at the Geneva Conventions.

Have = plural

has = singular The inflection is in the auxiliary 'does'. Use 'have ' as the base verb..

 Does the -have- refer to the rights or the enemy as the subject? The subject is 'an enemy'.

 Also my second question, what is the difference in

1. An enemy that is detained  When they catch him, 'he is detained (by his captors)'. After that, he is in a state of 'being detained'.

2. An enemy that is being detained

Best wishes, Clive

  
Top 10 Contributor
Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004
Canada
Veteran Member (21,181)
ModeratorTeachers
El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo
Anonymous  #515878  Tue, 20 May 08 12:43 AM
Okay, I think I understand now.

Yes, that sentence is inaccurate. I did not want to put the exact sentence that I have in my essay on this site for plagiarism reasons

(Legally speaking, enemy combatants do have rights.  In practice, however, that is another story.) :)

 Thanks for the help Clive.

  

  
CalifJim  #515887  Tue, 20 May 08 01:42 AM
 
Anonymous

what is the difference in between these:

1. An enemy that is detained 

2. An enemy that is being detained

2. focuses more on an enemy in the process of being detained.

  
Top 10 Contributor
Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004
California
Veteran Member (16,966)
ModeratorProficient Speaker
"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche
CalifJim  #515888  Tue, 20 May 08 01:50 AM
Anonymous
An enemy that is being detained does not (have/has) any rights.

Have = plural

has = singular

 Does the -have- refer to the rights or the enemy as the subject?

 

The question is not whether to use has or have, because have is used after both does and do.  The question is whether to use does or do.

Except for the items in bold, the words are the same in either case. 

An ( 1 ) enemy ( 1 )  [ that is ( 1 ) being detained ]   does ( 1 ) not have any rights. 

Enemies ( >1 )  [ that are ( >1 ) being detained ]   do ( >1 ) not have any rights.

CJ 

  
AddThis Feed Button RSS Feed: ESL General English Grammar Questions
© 2008 MediaCET Ltd.
Terms and Conditions & Terms of Service